Use of Vestibular Rehabilitation in the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

Purpose The purposes of this article are (a) to describe the different test procedures for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and (b) to provide guidance for the treatment of the various forms of BPPV and to discuss the efficacy of the different interventions. Conclusions While BPPV primarily occurs in the posterior semicircular canal, it is also seen in the anterior and horizontal semicircular canals. There are distinctive patterns of nystagmus that help identify the affected semicircular canal and to differentiate between cupulolithiasis and canalithiasis forms of BPPV. There is reasonable evidence to support the different treatments for both posterior and horizontal semicircular canal BPPV. Anterior semicircular canal BPPV is rare, and as a consequence, there is little evidence to support the various treatment techniques. Finally, while BPPV is generally easy to identify, there are central causes of positional nystagmus with and without vertigo, which can complicate the diagnosis of BPPV. The signs and symptoms of BPPV are contrasted with those of the central causes of positional nystagmus.